Statehood: Delaware became a state on December 7, 1787. Delaware was the first state to sign the Constitution and join the Union. Hence it is known as “The First State” and the first of the original 13 colonies.

State Capital: Dover

Size: Delaware is the second smallest state in the U.S., covering a total of 2,489 square miles with a total land area of just 1,982 square miles (96 miles in length, but varies between 9 and 95 miles in width). Although Delaware is the second smallest state, it has the 21st most shoreline in the U.S. with over 381 miles along the water.

Population: The 2000 census projected The First State’s population to be 783,600 people. This makes Delaware the 45th most populous state in the U.S.

Counties: Delaware’s three counties, New Castle, Kent and Sussex, are 438, 594, and 594 square miles, respectively.

Weather: Delaware is a “four-season-state” getting a bit of Fall, Winter, Spring, and Summer. However, more often than not, the State’s climate remains mild. The average monthly temperatures range between 75.8 and 32.0 degrees.

State Seal: The Great Seal of the State of Delaware was adopted on January 17, 1777. The Seal symbolizes the foundations of the state’s economy and history. The images of the ship, the ox, and corn and wheat represent the major industries in each of Delaware’s three counties – New Castle, Kent, and Sussex respectively (shipping, farming and agriculture). The two men flanking these images represent the farmers and the soldiers of Delaware. The dates at the bottom of the seal (1793, 1847, and 1907) are years when significant changes to the seal were made.

State Flag: The current colonial blue state flag was adopted on July 24, 1913. The flag depicts a diamond containing the coat of arms of Delaware identical to the one depicted on the Great Seal. Below the diamond is the date “December 7, 1787.” This marks the day Delaware became the first state to ratify the Constitution and join the Union. Because of this action, Delaware is accorded the first position in such national events as presidential inaugurations.

State Colors: Colonial blue and buff

State Motto: “Liberty and Independence”

State Nicknames: Delaware is referred to as “The First State,” “The Diamond State,” and “Blue Hen State.” “The First State” became the official state nickname on May 23, 2002 after a request was made by Mrs. Anabelle O'Malley's first grade class at Mt. Pleasant Elementary School.

State Song: "Our Delaware"

State Flower: Peach Blossom

State Bird: Blue Hen

State Tree: American Holly

State Bug: Lady Bug

 

New Castle County:

New Castle is the northern most region of Delaware. New Castle County offers it’s residents a bit of the city when one wants to walk through the busy streets of Wilmington’s Rodney Square or Market Street. However, New Castle also provides the opportunity to soak in the relaxing curves of what is often referred to as “Delaware’s Chateau Country” - just a ten minute drive from the hustle and bustle of downtown. The county is home to two of the most vibrant areas of the state, the county seat and Delaware’s largest city, Wilmington, and also the town of Newark, home of the University of Delaware’s Fightin' Blue Hens. New Castle houses many of Delaware’s most exciting attractions including the newly revitalized waterfront, Winterthur Gardens, Hagley Museum, the DuPont Playhouse Theater, the Grand Opera House, and the always eclectic “Main Street” situated in the heart of the University of Delaware and Newark. The county extends just below the Chesapeake and Delaware Canal where it merges into Kent County.

Kent County:

Located in central Delaware, Kent County is home to variety of historical and cultural attractions. The county’s rolling farmland is home to a nice mix of time honored traditions and modern high-tech culture. Visitors seeking quiet and relaxation can find Amish horse drawn buggies riding down the streets and see a variety of shorebirds nesting along the coastline. Those seeking a bit more action can watch an exciting NASCAR race at Dover International Speedway or watch a giant C-5 Galaxy military cargo plane taking off from Dover Air Force Base to supply our troops around the world. Kent County is also filled with history. In addition to housing twenty museums and historical sites (many of which are free!), the region is home to Delaware’s political capital - the city of Dover. Dover is the second-largest city in the state and is the place where our colonial forefathers were the first to ratify the United States Constitution, making Delaware “The First State.”

Sussex County:

Delaware’s southern most county is home to some of the most beautiful beaches on the East Coast, including Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany and Fenwick. Moving inland from its vast stretch of coastal shores, Sussex County is home to countless rivers, lakes and bays. The region is famous for its migratory bird sanctuaries. Also making their homes in Delaware are thousands of domesticated birds - chickens. Sussex County produces more poultry than any other county in America. Agriculture is Delaware's number one industry. Of the state's 1.25 million acres, over 470,000 are harvested in cropland, ranking Delaware 5th in the nation with 37.5 percent of the total land area in productive cropland. Currently, Delaware leads the nation in the percentage of protected farmland, with 5.2% of our total land area and 11.3% of our land in farms permanently preserved through agricultural easements.

For more information and a brief history of our great state, visit the official website of Delaware at: www.delaware.gov.